Coastal Colors: Red, White, & Blue

Radiant and bold, this patriotic palette shouts summer style and adds spirit to any interior.

Radiant and bold, this patriotic palette shouts summer style and adds spirit to any interior.

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Coastal Living

1 of 18Photo: Rick Lew

Classic Seaside Color Combo

Tranquil blue and white, seen in these pretty patterned drapes, make the perfect foil for fiery red. Because the spicy shade is effective at getting attention, it’s an excellent color for creating a focal point in an airy sea-and sand-hued space.

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2 of 18Photo: Annie Schlechter

Color Block Kids Room

The contrasts between red, white, and blue make the palette well-suited for color blocking, where solid splashes of each shade stand next to each other with no transition.

3 of 18Photo: Annie Schlechter

Punches of Pattern

When decorating with bold primary colors like red and blue, you can go a little wild with patterns and still have a sophisticated look. Plaids, toiles, and even graphic zigzags work harmoniously. Try mixing up the scale of patterns—and to work with shots of single hues—to keep things balanced.

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4 of 18Photo: Francesco Lagnese

Nautical Guest Room

The harmonious mix of one warm, one cool, and one neutral color works well for a range of styles, including of course, nautical.

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5 of 18Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Eat-In Kitchen

The classic mix of red, white, and blue livens up coastal home decor. Look to the water. If you have spectacular ocean views, let the water replace interior blue hues and introduce extra hints of red for contrast.

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6 of 18Alec Hemer

Playroom

Pull the color scheme through every element of the room and tie it together with a multicolor rug for an informal, haphazard appearance that lends itself to beachside living. Don't worry about trying to match colors to the rug precisely―variations in shades and style lend character and prevent spaces from feeling overly decorated.

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7 of 18Photo: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Great Room

Don’t be bashful―go ahead and mix stripes with patterns. Remember: Reds will dominate and blues will recede, so be judicious when placing reds throughout your home. Use them as vibrant accents, and let blue tell the story.

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8 of 18Elizabeth Glasgow

Front Porch

Jazz up a home’s exterior by painting the front door a rich sea blue. Frame it with fresh, white trim and add red porch furniture for a look that’s all-American. Make porch ceilings appear higher with a hint of ocean blue. Remember, a little color goes a long way. The effect is not meant to be dramatic, so choose a delicate tint.

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9 of 18Keith Scott Morton

Guest Bedroom

Make the most of small details. Even a telephone, flowers, and books can provide punches of color.

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10 of 18Jean Allsopp

Living Room

Call attention to a room’s architectural elements, such as trim and molding, by painting them deep navy. You can also wake up a plain floor with paint. Here, thin stripes of white outline alternating shades of blue.

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11 of 18Mark Darley

Exterior Paint Colors

Enliven a colorless exterior with swaths of red. Use the shade on architectural elements―either daringly, on a corrugated metal roof, or sparingly, on Bamaha-style shutters.

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12 of 18Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Kitchen Accents

For a subtle effect, let red and blue take a backseat to natural wood. The result is understated with a distinct maritime flavor.

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13 of 18James R. Solomon

Kitchen Accent Wall

Consider using your boldest hue on an accent wall. When you’re working with several shades, the brightest color will showcase the wall with the most-interesting features.